Texans wide receiver Davis pushing for starting position

Texans WR Davis pushing for starting role

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, August 7, 2008

André Davis is ready to step back on the field. He doesn’t care if it’s the preseason or the regular season. He’s just ready to let loose.

No one can blame him. He ended last season as strong as anyone on the Texans, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns in the season finale against Jacksonville. After putting together the best year of his career as a receiver as well, Davis earned himself a four-year, $16 million contract that will pay him $6.5 million this season.

Fearsome foursome

Davis enters the season as a key component on one of the team’s strongest units.

A year ago, the same four were part of a receiving corps that many worried would be a weakness of the team.

“I still don’t know what people think of us, and we couldn’t probably care less,” Davis said. “We know we have a good group. We know we have to continue to carry each other and try to take the load off André, because he is our horse — he’s the guy we’re going to ride.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Chronicle

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Texans receiver André Davis, a former second-round pick, has started 32 games in the past seven seasons, including eight with the Texans last year. But with stops in four different cities, Davis has never been a full-time starter. less

Texans receiver André Davis, a former second-round pick, has started 32 games in the past seven seasons, including eight with the Texans last year. But with stops in four different cities, Davis has never ... more

Photo: Brett Coomer, Chronicle

Texans wide receiver Davis pushing for starting position

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“We have to make sure we’re going to go out there and do all we can to help this offense out.”

Davis, who caught 33 passes for 583 yards and three touchdowns in 2007, emerged as the team’s No. 3 receiver after spending the first two weeks of the season on the inactive list. A deep option for quarterbacks Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels, he finished the season tied for third in the NFL with 17.7 yards per catch.

“He’s coming in with a lot of confidence,” Schaub said. “He attacked this offseason to get better and improve his intermediate route game. He’s been a big deep threat for us, but he’s developed into a much better all-around receiver for us. He’s had a tremendous two weeks here for us so far, and I’m excited to get him out there and find him in the air.”

Thinking first string

Davis, 29, is ready for any role with the team this year, but he’s still pushing for the opportunity to start as much as possible.

The former second-round pick has started 32 games in the past seven seasons, including eight with the Texans last year. But with stops in four different cities, Davis has never been a full-time starter. He’s trying to change that by pushing Walter constantly.

The friendly competition is benefiting each of them.

Fighting to break through

“Kevin is starting right now, and I’m still fighting to try to break through,” Davis said. “We continue pushing each other, and I think the great thing is that we’re good friends as well. So we’re never going to let that competition get between us, but at the same time we’re going to continue pushing each other to make plays.”

Davis is expected to start alongside Walter in the first preseason game Saturday since Johnson continues to nurse a sore groin and is not expected to play.

“(Davis) has done really good,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “He’s a very consistent player. We’re playing him in a lot of different spots because of Andre being out, but he’s everything we thought he was last year, and I think he’s getting even better.”